r^ 


Checking  Schedule  for 

Projected  School 

Buildings 


By 
James  O.  Betelle 


The  Bruce  Publishing  Company 

Milwaukee,  Wisconsin 


Checking  Schedule   for 

Projected  School 

Buildings 

A  Guide  for  School  Boards  and  Superintendents 


By 


James  O.  Betelle,  A.  I.  A 


Member  of  the  Firm  of  Guilbert  &  Betelle,  Architects,  Newark. 

Lecturer  on  School  Architecture  at  Teachers  College, 

Columbia  University 


The  Bruce  Publishing  Company 

Milwaukee,  Wisconsin 


:  :        Copyright   1919 

Bruce  Publishing  Co. 


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•,  •  •  ./  •  V  •  t  ■  .     •  •      •  •  •  • 


Introduction 


This  pamphlet  is  being  written  with  a  view  of  saving  the  time 
and  assisting  the  school  board  member  or  the  superintendent  of 
schools  of  any  community  having  in  charge  the  erection  of  a  new 
school  building.  It  will  help  them  summarize  their  requirements 
and  put  them  in  proper  form  for  discussion  and  approval  by  the 
Board  of  Education  and  finally  to  be  turned  over  to  the  Architect 
as  a  basis  for  him  to  begin  work  on  the  plans.  It  will  also  serve  to 
bring  to  mind  many  items  that  are  often  not  remembered  until  the 
plans  of  the  building  are  drawn,  or  as  it  sometimes  happens,  not 
until  after  the  building  is  completed  and  occupied. 

Part  1  calls  attention  to  the  items  concerning  which  the 
Architect  needs  information  before  he  can  start  upon  the  plans  and 
specilications.  Part  II  is  written  to  assist  the  Chairman  of  the 
Building  Committee  and  Superintendent  to  quickly  and  completely 
check  up  the  finished  plans  and  specifications  with  the  least  possible 
expenditure  of  valuable  time  and  yet  have  all  important  points  con- 
sidered. 

In  many  communities  a  new  school  is  only  built  once  in  a  gen- 
eration and  the  Chairman  of  the  Building  Committee,  the  President 
of  the  Board  and  the  Superintendent  of  Schools,  are  usually  the 
most  actively  interested  and  the  ones  most  responsible  for  the  suc- 
cess of  the  contemplated  building.  It  is  also  often  the  case  that  the 
persons  public  spirited  enough  to  serve  as  members  of  the  School 
Board  have  many  other  calls  upon  their  time  and  strength  aside 
from  that  all-important  business  of  "earning  a  living."  Anything 
that  can  be  done  to  help  these  conscientious  and  busy  public  officials 
get  for  their  community  a  complete  and  up-to-date  school  building 
with  as  little  effort  as  possible,  is  well  worth  while.  It  is  hoped  that 
the  data  and  suggestions  here  presented  will  in  a  measure  serve  this 

purpose. 

—J.  O.  B. 

41581S 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/checkingscheduleOObeterich 


PART  I. 

Information    Needed  by  the  Architect  to  Start  Preparation  of 
Plans  and  Specifications  for  a  New  School 

The  Architect  at  the  very  start  of  tlie  work  needs  certain  infor- 
mation in  order  to  properly  begin  the  preparation  of  the  plans. 
This  information  must  be  furnished  him  by  the  Board  of  Education 
after  careful  consideration,  and  after  consultation  with  the  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools.  S(mie  of  the  items  in  the  list  given  below  are 
educational  and  refer  to  the  organization  and  policy  of  the  school 
system,  others  are  strictly  constructional  and  have  reference  to  the 
design  of  the  school  building. 

One  of  the  first  things  that  should  be  furnished  the  Architect  is 
a  "Program''  showing  the  course  of  study  to  be  taught,  the  length 
of  class  periods,  and  the  number  of  pupils  to  be  accommodated  in 
each  subject.  It  is  impossible  to  properly  design  a  school  building 
unless  it  is  determined  beforehand  what  subjects  are  to  be  taught 
and  a  definite  "Program"  has  been  laid  out. 

To  assist  in  making  up  a  list  of  requirements  for  the  new  school 
building  one  scheme  which  has  been  carried  out  successfully  in  a 
large  school  organization  is  to  have  the  Superintendent  send  out  a 
questionnaire  to  principals,  supervisors,  heads  of  departments  and 
teachers  who  will  be  located  in  the  new^  building,  inviting  their  views 
and  suggestions  regarding  the  new  building.  The  results  of  the 
answers  to  the  questionnaire  and  discussions  which  follow  are  sum- 
marized and  placed  before  the  Board  for  consideration.  If  real 
progress  is  to  be  made  in  schoolhouse  planning  the  suggestions  and 
recommendations  of  the  teachers  who  actually  live  and  work  in  the 
buildings  we  construct,  must  be  obtained,  considered  and  folloAved, 
w^here,  in  the  final  judgment  of  the  Board  of  Education  it  may  seem 
wise  so  to  do. 


Memoranda 


List  of  Items  Concerning  Which  the  Architect 
Needs  Information 

Kinds  of  School  : 

Consolidated  Schools? 

Grade  School? 

Junior  High  School? 

Senior  High  School? 

Manual  Trainiii;;  or  Commercial  High  School? 

Vocational  High  School? 

Organization  of  School  : 

Scheme  of  organization  should  be  stated : 
Standard  school  program? 

Platoon,  Duplicate,  or  Modified  "Gary"  System? 
Should  the  C — 6,  6 — 2—4,  or  6—3 — 3  plan  of  organization  be 
installed? 

Capacity  of  Building  : 

Total  number  of  pupils  for  which  accommodations  are  now- 
required? 

Probable  number  of  pupils  in  each  subject? 

Number  of  pupils  in  various  class  units? 

Provision  for  pupils  in  classrooms  over  and  above  present  re- 
quirements, to  take  care  of  the  normal  increase  for  the 
next  few  years,  without  building  any  new  addition  to 
school? 

ScpiEME  of  Study  Rooms  : 

Number  of  Study  Rooms  and  seating  capacity  of  eacli? 

Storage  Rooms  for  Books  and  Stationery  : 

State  desired  number,  size,  and  preferred  location? 

Rules  for  Computing  Number  of  Pupils 
Accommodated  in  a  School  Building. 

The  American  Institute  of  Architects  and  the  Committee  on 
Standardization  of  School  Buildings  of  the  National  Edu- 
cation Association  have  both  adopted  the  following 
method : 
"Compute  the  number  of  pupils  normally  accommodated  in 
rooms  designed  for  classes  only.     Special  rooms  are  to  be 

7 


Memoranda 


;'  iigured  at  the  actual  number  of  pupils  accommodated  for 

one  class  period  only.  Auditoriums  and  assembly  rooms 
are  to  be  ignored,  but  gymnasiums  may  be  figured  for  one 
or  two  classes,  as  the  accommodations  may  provide.  No 
gymnasiums,  however,  shall  be  accredited  with  two  classes, 
if  below^  40  by  70  feet  in  size.'' 

It  should  be  noted  that  the  pupil  capacity  of  a  building  com- 
puted on  the  basis  given  above  represents  a  maximum*  capacity.  It 
is  not  altogether  desirable  to  begin  the  use  of  a  new  school  building 
counting  upon  such  rooms  as  laboratories,  shops  and  other  special 
rooms  as  home  seats.  After  the  school  has  been  built  a  few  years 
and  before  an  addition  can  be  constructed  it  is  often  necessary  to 
use  these  special  as  home  seats  or  stations  for  pupils,  at  which  time 
the  maximum  pupil  capacity  will  be  reached.  Pupil  capacity  can 
possibly  best  be  stated  as  "maximum  pupil  capacity^"  in  accordance 
with  the  A.  I.  A.  and  N.  E.  A.  rules  and  upon  which  the  cost  per  pupil 
is  figured,  and  '^normal  pupil  capacity,"  which  is  the  desirable  num- 
ber of  pupils  any  school  building  will  accommodate. 

Number  and  Sizes  of  Rooms 
For  Different  Purposes  : 

Number  of  standard  classrooms  and  sizes  of  each? 

Number  of  recitation  rooms  and  sizes  of  each  ? 

Number  and  kind  of  special  rooms  and  sizes  of  each? 

A  school  building  should  be  so  constructed  that  changes  in 

sizes  of  rooms  may  be  easily  made  to  take  care  of  future 

educational  requirements. 

Auditorium  : 

Total  seating  capacity? 
Located  on  first  or  ground  floor? 
Number  of  seats  desired  on  main  floor? 
Number  of  seats  desired  in  gallery,  if  any? 
Main  floor  to  be  flat  or  sloping? 
Area  desired  for  stage? 
Shall  stage  be  arranged  for  scenery? 
Pipe  organ? 

Built  in  fireproof  moving  picture  booth? 

Provision  for  darkening  interior  of  Auditorium  in  daytime  for 
moving  pictures? 

9 


Memoranda 


10 


Easily  accessil^le  for  Citizens'  Meetings,  or  other  outside  pur- 
pose in  evenings,  or  other  times  without  opening  up  entire 
building? 

Heating  and  Ventilating  systems  separate  from  rest  of  building 
so  room  need  only  be  ventilated  when  actually  in  use  by  a 
large  number  of  persons? 

^yill  Auditorium  be  used  for  any  other  purpose  such  as  gym- 
nasium or  study  hall? 

Gymnasium  : 

Size  and  height? 

Spectators'  gallery  and  number  of  seats  in  same? 

AVill  more  than  one  gymnasium  be  required  or  an  additional 
exercise  room  be  needed? 

Arrangement  of  Locker,  Dressing  and  Shower  Rooms,  approxi- 
mate size  and  number  of  lockers  and  showers  desired  in 
each. 

Physical  Director's  Office? 

Drinking  fountain  in  Gymnasium? 

Apparatus  storage  room? 

Physical  and  Medical  Examination  Rooms? 

Gymnasium  accessible  from  outside  for  community  uses  with- 
out opening  main  part  of  building? 

Rifle  Range? 

Wrestling,  Boxing,  or  Lecture  Rooms? 

Running  Track? 

Note  that  minimum  size  of  a  standard  basket  ball  court  is  o5'  x 
GO',  maximum  size,  50'  x  90'.  A  space  of  at  least  8'0"  should 
be  allowed  all  around  court. 

Swimming  Pool? 

Library  : 

Size  and  preferred  location? 

Number  of  books  at  present  in  school  library  and  probal)le 
maximum  number  in  future? 

For  school  use  only,  or  also  a  circulating  Library? 

If  circulating  community  Library,  provision  should  be  made  for 
its  use  outside  school  hours,  evenings  and  holidays.  Also 
provision  for  heating  without  running  main  heating  plant. 

Library  Stack  Room? 

Library  Work  Room? 

11 


Memoranda 


12 


Library  may  also  be  used  to  advantage  for  teachers'  meetings, 
and  scliool  and  communitv  club  meetings. 

Laboratories  : 

Kinds  of  Laboratories? 

Number,  size,  and  preferred  location? 

Numbei-  of  pupils  to  be  accommodated  at  one  time  in  each? 

Equipment? 

Lecture  Kooms  : 

Number,  size,  use  and  preferred  locations? 
Seats  on  raised  platforms? 
Pupils  to  be  accommodated  in  each?    . 
Equipment  ? 

Special  Rooms  : 

Number,    size,    and   preferred   location    of    all    special    rooms 
such  as : 


Bookkeeping- 
Stenography 

Typewriting 

School  Bank 

Music  Rocmis 

Domestic      Science      De- 
partment 

Laundry 

Model  Apartment 

Sewing  Room 

Fitting  Room 

Men  Teachers'  Room 

Women  Teachers'  Room 

Girls'  Rest  Room 

Medical  Inspection 
Rooms 

Dental  Clinic  Room 

Play  Rooms 

Woodworking  Shop 

Machine  Shop 


Sheet  Metal  Shop 
Forge  Shop 
Printing  Shop 
Agriculture 
Bicycle  Room 
Kindergarten 
Mechanical  Drawing 

Room 
Freehand  Drawing 

Room 
Arts  and  Crafts  Room 
Museum 
Janitor's  Room 
Conservatory 
Principal's  Office 
Superintendent's  Office 
13oard  of  Education 

Rooms 
Secretary's  Office 
Open  Air  Rooms. 


State  number  of  pupils  to  be  accommodated  at  one  time ;  approx- 
imate size  and  preferred  location  of  each  room ;  also,  descrip- 
tion of  special  equipment  and  accessories. 

13 


Memoranda 


14 


Lunchroom: 

Provision  for  preparing  and  serving  lunches  to  scholars  and 
teachers? 

Number  of  pupils  to  be  seated  at  one  time,  and  preferred  loca- 
tion of  room  ? 

Types  OF  Wardrobes  and  Method  of 
Taking  Care  of  Pupils'  Clothing  : 

Wardrobes  in  rooms? 

Separate  Cloak  Rooms  adjoining  Classrooms? 
Steel  Lockers  in  basement  or  elsewhere? 
Any  other  special  arrangement  desired? 

Provision  for  Extension  of  Building 
TO  Take  Care  of  Future  Growth  : 

Buildings  under  twenty  classrooms  in  size  and  in  many  cases 
larger  ones,  should  always  be  designed  so  that  additions  to 
same  can  be  easily  built.  It  is  recommended  that  a  future 
addition  be  actually  drawn  out  on  the  preliminary  sketches 
for  future  reference.  Later  Boards  of  Education  can  then 
see  what  was  contemplated  in  the  way  of  an  addition  when 
the  building  was  planned,  and  wliether  they  follow  it  in  all 
its  details  or  not,  they  at  least  have  a  basis  to  start  to  work 
on. 

Money  Available  : 

For  building $ 

For  driveways,  paths  and  grading  property. . .  .  .  .| 

For  Architects'  fees I 

For  furniture  and  equipment I 

Surplus  for  contingencies I 

Total * 

When  Is  It  Desired  to  Have 
School  Building  Completed.^ 

It  must  be  remembered  that  for  a  medium  size  brick  building  it 
takes  from  two  to  three  months  to  prepare  plans  and  speci- 
fications, and  from  eight  months  to  one  year  to  build  the 
school,  depending  upon  its  size. 

15 


Memoranda 


16 


Survey  of  Property: 

It  is  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Education  to  furnish  the  Architect 
with  a  complete  topographical  survey  of  the  property.  This 
survey  should  give  dimensions,  levels,  show  streets,  locate 
all  trees  and  existing  buildings,  gas  mains,  Avater  main, 
sewers,  electric  mains,  and  kind  of  current  available;  also 
any  peculiar  features  of  the  property,  or  any  restrictions 
applying  to  same. 

Test  Borings  : 

The  Board  of  Education  should  have  test  borings  made  or  test 
pits  dug  to  determine  the  character  and  bearing  capacity  of 
the  soil;  also  to  locate  the  level  of  sub-surface  water,  and 
the  location  of  rock  if  any.  Neglect  to  determine  the  char- 
acter and  depth  of  the  underlying  soil,  has  many  times  been 
the  cause  of  great  expense,  later  on,  when  the  construction 
of  the  building  was  under  way. 

Work  to  Be  Included  Or  Not 
Included  in  Contract.^ 

Are  lighting  fixtures  to  be  included  or  purchased  later? 

Are  windoAV  shades  to  be  included  or  purchased  later? 

Is  entire  property  to  be  graded  or  only  just  around  building? 

Are  road,  paths,  and  sidewalks,  to  be  included? 

Is  the  building  contract  to  include  furniture  and  equipment  or 

any  special  items  of  same? 

Insurance  on  Building  During 
Construction  : 

The  Board  of  Education  usually  insures  the  building  ag:ainst 
fire  and  tornado,  during  construction ;  for  the  benefit  of  all 
parties  concerned  as  their  interests  may  appear  at  the  time 
of  loss.  Liability  insurance  and  damage  to  persons  or  prop- 
erty is  carried  by  the  contractor. 

Method  of  Making  Payments  to  Contractors  : 

This  is  usually  done  montlily,  upon  certificate  of  the  Architect 
and  equal  to  85%  of  the  value  of  labor  and  material  act- 
ually incorporated  into  the  building  at  the  time  of  calculat- 

17 


Mkmokanda 


18 


ing  paviiieiit.  The  remaining  io%  accumulates  as  a  final 
payment,  which  is  generaly  made  within  30  clays  after  com- 
pletion and  acceptance  of  the  building  by  the  Board. 

Materials  to  Be  Ujsed  in  the  Buildixc;  : 

Kind  of  face  brick  and  exterior  trim? 

Kind  of  floor  construction? 

Firejiroof  or  semi-fireproof  construction? 

Materials  of  roof? 

Kind  of  wood  for  inside  trim? 

Kind  of  Avood  for  Classroom  floors? 

Kind  of  floors  in  Corridors? 

Kind  of  floors  and  wainscoting  in  Toilet  Rooms? 

Type  of  Avindows — double  hung,  hinged,  or  pivoted? 

Kind  of  stairs? 

Etc.,  etc.,  etc. 

By  reading  over  Part  II  certain  items  may  be  noticed  concerning 

which  it  is  desired  to  give  special  instructions  at  the  time 

the  plan  and  specifications  are  started. 

Book  Lifts^  Dumb  Waiters,  Dust  Chutes  : 

If  any  are  required,  number,  size  and  location  should  be  stated. 
Vertical  shafts  and  doors  to  same  should  in  all  cases  be  fire- 
proof. 

Wainscoting  in  Corridors  or  Classrooms  : 

Lower  walls  of  classrooms  and  especially  corridors  are  sub- 
jected to  heavy  wear  and  abuse.  Wainscoting  of  painted 
burlap  is  often  used  in  classrooms  and  glazed  brick  about 
5'  0"  high  in  corridors. 

Sound  Deadening  of  Floors  Or  Partitions  : 

Certain  floors  and  partitions  such  as  the  floor  of  a  gymnasium 
where  located  over  an  auditorium,  or  a  Toilet  Room  ad- 
joining a  Classroom,  need  to  be  insulated  and  have  sound 
deadening.  There  may  also  be  other  cases  where  such 
sound  deadening  is  required  as,  for  instance,  around  Music 
Rooms,  Gymnasium,  noisy  Shops,  etc. 

19 


When  the  above  instructions  and  special  information  has  been 
given  the  Architect,  he  can  then  proceed  with  the  preparation  of  the 
plans  and  specifications.  He  will  first  make  Preliminary  Plans  and 
Specifications  which  will  be  submitted  to  the  Board  of  Education 
and  Superintendents,  for  their  criticism  and  approval,  and  any 
changes  can  easily  be  made  at  that  time. 

Preliminary  plans  and  specifications  are  just  what  their  name 
implies,  and  are  easily  modified  or  changed.  Give  enough  time  and 
study  to  the  preliminary  sketches  so  as  to  be  entirely  satisfied,  before 
approving  them.  Don't  wait  until  the  final  plans  and  specifications 
are  all  completed  and  ready  to  be  sent  out  for  estimates,  and  then 
decide  to  make  changes.  This  not  only  causes  delay,  but  also  means 
an  additional  charge  by  the  Architect  for  changing  completed  plans 
and  specifications,  which  are  always  prepared  along  the  lines  of  the 
approved  preliminary  sketches. 


20 


PART  II. 
Outline  of  Items  for  Checking  Plans  and  Specifications 

After  the  Preliminary  Plans  of  the  proposed  school  building 
have  been  submitted  by  the  Architect,  and  approved  by  the  Board  of 
Education  and  the  Superintendent,  the  Architect  proceeds  with  the 
preparation  of  final  estimating  and  working  drawings.  When  these 
estimating  plans  and  specifications  are  completed,  they  are  usually 
submitted  to  the  Board  of  Education  and  Superintendent  for  final 
approval  and  authority  to  advertise  for  bids  and  to  send  them  out  to 
Contractors  for  estimates. 

Blueprints  of  the  final  plans  and  specifications  for  approval 
should  be  left  with  the  Board  and  ample  time  given  to  carefully  look 
over  same,  by  the  Superintendent  and  Board  members  having  the 
matter  in  charge.  Any  fundamental  changes  should  ahvays  be  made 
in  the  Preliminary  Plans  and  only  slight. corrections,  if  found  abso- 
lutely essential,  should  be  made  in  these  final  plans. 

After  the  estimating  drawings  are  issued,  to  the  Contractors,  no 
changes  should  be  made.  If  mistakes  or  discrepancies  are  discov- 
ered, this  can  be  taken  care  of  by  mailing  a  "Bulletin"  to  each  Con- 
tractor figuring,  which  Bulletin  is  afterwards  made  part  of  the 
contract.  The  law  requires  that  a  contract  must  be  let  in  strict 
accordance  with  the  plans,  specifications  and  estimate  submitted. 
After  the  award  of  the  contract  and  start  of  construction  changes 
should  be  avoided.  Changes  at  this  time  are  liable  to  lead  to  dis- 
putes, misunderstandings,  and  very  often  to  excessive  extra  costs. 

It  is  the  duty  of  the  School  Board  and  Superintendent  to  know 
in  a  general  way  what  the  plans  and  specifications  include  or  omit, 
and  satisfy  themselves  that  special  items  which  they  have  discussed 
from  time  to  time  during  the  preparation  of  the  plans  have  been 
properly  taken  care  of.  It  is  practically  impossible  for  the  busy  Sup- 
erintendent and  the  busier  School  Board  members  to  read  thru  the 
entire  specifications  and  to  see  and  check  up  everything  on  the  plans. 
In  fact,  if  they  did  have  the  time,  they  would  find  that  the  greater 
part  of  the  plans  and  specifications  were  of  a  technical  nature,  of 
no  interest  to  the  laymen,  and  not  easily  understood  by  him. 

21 


Ambitious  School  Superintendents  or  Building  Commit  toe 
Members  often  take  home  the  plans  and  specifications  with  the  idea 
of  reading  them  thru,  Avord  for  word.  After  conscientiously  reading 
the  first  fifteen  or  tAventy  pages  out  of  a  hundred  or  more,  they  find 
that  the  technical  nature  and  volume  of  the  pages  makes  it  practi- 
cally impossible  to  make  any  headway,  or  get  a  clear  understanding 
of  what  the  plans  and  specifications  actually  call  for.  It  is  with  the 
idea  of  simplifying  this  procedure  and  giving  the  Superintendent 
and  the  Board  members,  the  information  Avith  a  minimum  amount 
of  labor,  that  the  memoranda  giA^en  beloAv  have  been  prepared. 

The  examination  and  approval  of  the  plans  by  the  Superintend- 
ent is  not  AAith  the  idea  of  relicAdng  the  x\rchitect  of  any  of  his 
responsibilities.  It  is  the  Architect's  duty  to  see  that  the  plans  and 
specifications  are  complete  and  agree  Avith  each  other,  and  that  the 
State  and  Local  LaAvs  applying  to  School  Buildings  have  been  com- 
plied Avith.  Also  that  the  instructions  given  from  time  to  time  by 
the  Board,  as  to  arrangement,  materials  or  finishes,  are  carried  out, 
and  that  a  complete,  substantial  and  safe  building  is  produced  Avhen 
the  plans  and  specifications  are  executed  in  brick,  stone  and  mortar. 

The  list  given  beloAV  Avill  be  of  assistance  in  helping  to  check 
important  points  covered  by  the  plans  and  specifications,  AAithout 
the  necessity  of  reading  through  the  specifications  Avord  for  Avord. 
If  the  persons  in  authority  Avill  make  sure  that  the  A^arious  items 
mentioned  in  this  list  are  taken  care  of  as  they  desire  them,  they 
will  have  gone  a  great  Avay  tOAvards  obtaining  a  building  that  Avill 
meet  with  their  special  requirements. 

In  case  you  cannot  find  in  the  plans  and  specifications  some  of 
the  items  mentioned  beloAV,  ask  your  Architect  to  point  out  the  same 
to  you,  or  if  omitted  to  explain  hOAV  he  proposes  taking  care  of  the 
same. 

The  list  could  very  AA^ell  be  supplemented  by  reading  over  the 
"Score  Card  of  the  City  School  Building''  and  ''Score  Card  of  Rural 
School  Building"  together  Avith  the  explanations  that  accompany 
same,  as  prepared  by  Dr.  George  D.  Strayer,  Professor  of  Educa- 
tional Administration,  Teachers  College,  Columbia  University,  Ncav 
York  City.  These  score  cards  suggest  many  items  to  investigate  and 
be  sure  are  properly  taken  care  of  Avhere  same  apply  to  your  building. 


22 


General 

See  that  instructions  as  to  number  of  Classrooms,  and  Special 
Rooms  are  carried  out  on  plans. 

See  that  the  instructions  as  to  Method  of  Making  Payments  to 
Contractors,  Time  of  Completion  of  Building,  Insurance,  etc.,  are 
carried  out  in  the  specifications. 

Check  up  the  corporate  name  of  the  Board  of  Education  men- 
tioned in  the  specifications  as  Owner  of  the  proposed  building.  This 
is  often  wrongly  stated. 

Decide  who  furnishes  and  pays  for  water,  light,  and  heat,  used 
during  construction  of  the  building — the  Owner  or  the  Contractor? 

See  that  specifications  require  Contractor  to  file  plans  and  ob- 
tain and  pay  for  Building  Permit,  or  that  it  is  otherwise  properly 
taken  care  of. 

Provision  for  temporary  office  for  Contractor  with  telephone 
connection,  during  construction  of  building? 

See  that  temporary  toilet  facilities  are  provided  for  workmen 
from  start  to  completion  of  job. 

Investigate  cutting  down  of  certain  trees  within  the  area  of  new 
building  and  the  boxing  around  or  protecting  of  these  trees  Avhich 
are  to  remain. 

Kemoval  of  any  old  building  on  site  and  disposal  of  old  material. 
Is  it  desired  to  save  any  old  materials? 

Masonry 

Provision  in  the  specification  if  rock  is  encountered  in  excava- 
tions? (It  is  usual  for  Contractors  to  estimate  on  excavations  of 
ordinary  clay,  stating  an  extra  price  in  their  estimate  per  cubic  yard 
if  rock  is  encountered). 

Provision  in  specification  for  keeping  excavations  free  from 
water  if  same  is  encountered  while  digging? 

What  measures  have  been  taken  to  make  walls  and  floors  of 
rooms  below  grade  waterproof? 

Do  soil  conditions  make  a  tile  sub-surface  drain  necessary 
around  the  building? 

What  quality  of  lime,  sand  and  cement  has  been  specified? 

Cement  sidewalks,  paths  and  drives? 

Composition  of  Mortar  : 

Usually  1  ])art  cement,  3  parts  sand,  and  lO^^'  lime  putty. 

23 


Composition  of  Concrete  : 

A  good  mixture  is  1  part  cement,  3  parts  sand  and  5  parts 
broken  stone. 

Take  Note  Where  Cement  Floors  Are  Called  For 
ON  Plans  and  Specifications  : 

Consult  Architect  and  learn  location  where  any  special  kind  of 
floor  has  been  used  other  than  the  ordinary  wood  floor.  The 
School  Board  is  often  surprised  on  completion  of  building 
to  find  that  a  cement  floor  has  been  laid  in  a  Manual  Train- 
ing Room  where  sharp  tools  are  used  and  sometimes 
dropped  and  ruined,  and  wood  floor  in  the  Forge  Room 
where  hot  coals  fall  on  the  floor.  Special  notice  should 
therefore  be  taken  about  materials  of  finished  floors  in  all 
rooms  and  spaces. 

Take  Note  Where  Fireproof  Floor  Construction 
AND  Roofs  Are  Called  for  : 

In  a  fireproof  building  it  is  assumed  that  all  floor  construction 
is  flreproof,  altho  the  roof  construction  is  sometimes  built  of  heav>^ 
timber  to  save  mone}'.  In  a  semi-fireproof  building  it  is  usual  to 
make  the  Corridors  and  Stairs  fireproof,  and  also  floors  and  ceilings 
of  Boiler  Room  and  Manual  Training  Room  flreproof.  Other  con- 
struction of  wood. 

Look  Up  Kind  of  Materials  Used  in  Outside 
Walls  Above  and  Below  Grade  : 

Concrete,  stone,  brick,  terra  cotta  blocks,  wood,  etc.? 

Materials  of  Inside  Partitions  and 
Where  Do  Fireproof  Walls  Occur.^: 

Minor  interior  partitions  are  usually  Avood  in  a  semi-fireproof 
building,  and  brick,  terra  cotta,  plaster  block,  etc.,  in  a  fire- 
proof building.  In  a  semi-fireproof  building  certain  in- 
terior partitions  should  be  fireproof  such  as  enclosing  walls 
of  Boiler  Room,  Manual  Training  Rooms,  Corridors,  Stairs, 
etc.    It  is  well  to  know  just  where  these  occur. 

W^HAT  Outside  Face  Brick  Has  Been  Specified.^: 
Have  sample  submitted  for  approval  of  Board. 

24 


What  Outside  Trim  Has  Been  Specified.^: 

Stone,  terra  cotta,  copper,  <i:alvanize(l  sheet  iron,  wood,  etc. 
Have  sample  submitted  for  approval  if  stone  or  terra  cotta. 

What  Spaces  or  Rooms  in  Building  Have  the 
Brick  or  Terra  Cotta  Walls  or  Ceilings 
Left  Exposed  Without  Plaster.^: 

The  Board  and  Superintendents  are  often  surprised  when  going 
through  a  finished  school  building  to  find  certain  rooms  not 
plastered.  This  is  as  it  should  be  in  certain  rooms,  such  as 
Store  Rooms,  Play  Courts,  Boiler  Room,  etc.,  but  all  such 
unplastered  spaces  should  be  checked  up  and  agreed  to. 

Inquire  How  Building  Is  Damp-Proofed  Above  Grade  : 

All  outside  walls  whether  brick,  terra  cotta  block,  or  concrete, 
should  be  furred.  That  is,  the  inside  plastering  kept  1 "  or 
more  away  from  the  inside  face  of  outside  wall,  thus  leav- 
ing an  air  space  and  preventing  moisture  from  penetrating 
outside  walls  and  through  plaster  into  finished  rooms. 

Kind  of  Plaster  Specified  : 

"Old  Fashion"  mortar  is  where  lump  lime  is  slacked  and  sand 
hair  mixed  into  same  by  hand.  This  takes  considerable 
time,  as  the  slacked  lime  must  be  given  opportunity  to  cure 
and  cool,  (not  less  than  30  days).  It  is  also  difficult  to  be 
assured  of  correct  proportions  and  too  much  sand  is  often 
used. 

Factory  mixed  "Patent  Plaster'^  has  the  sand  and  hair  accurate- 
ly mixed  with  the  lime  at  the  mill.  It  is  put  up  in  bags 
and  shipped  direct  to  the  job  and  only  needs  the  addition 
of  water  to  make  it  ready  for  immediate  application.  While 
a  little  more  expensive  than  "Old  Fashion"  plaster,  it  is  a 
much  more  scientific  mixture. 

Kind  of  Lath  Specified  : 

Metal  lath  is  always  used  in  fireproof  buildings.  In  semi-fire- 
proof buildings,  wood  lath  is  used  on  partitions,  but  it  is 
preferable  to  use  metal  lath  on  ceilings.  Strips  of  metal 
lath  should  also  be  used  where  wood  lath  comes  up  against 
a  brick  wall,  so  as  to  avoid  ci'acks  caused  by  the  shrinkage 

of  the  wood. 

25 


Metal  Corner  Beads  : 

Should  be  specitiecl  for  all  external  angles  in  plaster  Avork. 

Finish  of  Plaster  : 

Smooth  or  sand  finish?  Smooth  finished  plaster  is  generally 
used  and  is  to  be  preferred  as  it  is  more  sanitary  than  the 
rough  sand  finish. 

Miscellaneous  Iron  Work 
Main  Stairs  : 

May  be  reinforced  concrete  or  iron. 

Height  of  risers  and  width  of  treads? 

Risers  not  over  7"  high. 

Treads  not  less  than  12"  wide. 

No  open  well  hole  should  be  permitted  between  flights  on  ac- 
count of  fire  or  smoke. 

Balustrade. rails  at  side  should  be  not  less  than  50"  high  to  pre- 
vent accidents. 

Hand  rails  should  be  provided  on  both  sides  of  all  flights  of 
stairs. 

Any  iron  stairs  or  iron  ladder  to  roof? 

Stairs  should  be  shut  off  from  corridors  with  fireproof  smoke 
screen. 

Miscellaneous  : 

Ash  lift  or  other  provision  for  getting  ashes  out  of  Boiler  Room? 
Are  outside  woven  wire  window  guards  specified  for  all  ground 

floor  Avindows? 
Have  coal  holes  or  coal  chutes  been  called  for? 
Any  folding  iron  gates  across  corridors  desired  to  cut  off  certain 

portions  of  building  when  Auditorium  or  other  rooms  are 

being  used  at  nights? 
Any   iron   fence   called   for   around   playgrounds   and   rest  of 

property? 
Any  iron  fire  escapes? 

Mud  scrapers  and  mats  at  entrance  doors? 
Any  fireproof  record  vault  required? 

26 


Roofing  and  Sheet  Metal 

Kind  of  roofing  used  in  various  places,  such  as  tin,  copper,  pitch, 
felt,  and  slag,  etc. 

Material  of  flashings,  gutter,  and  down  spouts?  (Should  be 
copper  j . 

Material  of  any  metal  cornices  or  other  ornamental  features  on 
exterior?     ( Should  be  copper) . 

Type  of  skylights  used?  Wire  glass  used  for  glazing  with 
woven  wire  guards  over  same  for  protection. 

All  roofing  and  skylight  work  should  be  guaranteed  by  con- 
tractor as  watertight  for  a  period  of  years;  Avith  repairs 
made  free  of  cost  to  Owners  in  case  of  leaks  occurring  dur- 
ing period  of  guarantee. 

Carpentry 

Kind  of  wood  and  quality  of  same  for  Classroom  floors? 
(Usually  rift  sawn  yellow  pine  or  clear  maple). 

Kind  of  floors  used  in  Corridors?  (Wood,  asphalt,  cement, 
composition,  linoleum,  etc.) 

Single  or  double  floors  used  where  wood  floors  are  called  for? 

Bolts  for  window  cleaner's  belt  on  outside  of  all  window  frames, 
above  ground  floor? 

Kind  of  windows  specified — double  hung  sash,  casement,  revolv- 
ing, or  some  special  type? 

Has  sash  cord  or  sash  chain  been  specified  for  double  hung  win- 

dOAVS?     . 

Window  frames  caulked  with  oakum,  and  sash  equipped  with 
metal  weather  strips,  to  prevent  excessive  air  leakage? 

Kind  of  interior  wood  trim? 

Location  of  picture  moulding? 

Kind  of  doors?  Flush  surface  hospital  type  with  glass  panel  in 
upper  portion,  or  ordinary  panelled  wood  door? 

Kind  of  blackboards  and  their  location?    Slate  or  composition? 

Type  of  chalk  troughs?    Height  of  chalk  troughs  above  floor? 

Cork  display  board  in  Classrooms  and  bulletin  board  in  Corri- 
dors? 

Dressers  and  cupboards  in  special  rooms? 

Any  folding  or  rolling  partitions  required  between  Classrooms? 

27 


Are  partitions  between  toilet  fixtures  wood,  metal,  soapstone, 
slate,  etc.? 

Bookcase  and  Teachers'  Closets  in  each  Classroom? 

Special  shelving  in  closet  or  store  rooms? 

Metal  covered  doors  to  Boiler  Koom  and  Manual  Traininjjj 
Rooms,  closing  off  same  from  Corridors  and  Basement? 

Metal  covered  partitions  and  doors  glazed  with  wire  glass  enclos- 
ing staircases  and  acting  as  a  smoke  and  fire  screen? 


Hardware 


Materials  and  quality? 

Solid  bronze  or  brass  hinges  on  outside  doors,  plated  brass  on 

inside  doors? 
Key  system  for  various  rooms  and  master  key  for  all  doors? 
Special  locks  for  Special   Rooms,   such  as  Principal's   Office, 

Laboratory,  etc. 
Numbers  on  doors  to  classrooms? 
Panic  bolts  required  on  all  outside  doors. 
Any  spring  checks  desired  on  outside  or  inside  doors  to  keep 

same  closed? 
Metal  kickplates  required  across  bottom  of  certain  doors? 

Painting 

Materials  and  quality  of  same? 

Number  of  coats  of  paint  called  for  by  specifications  on  wood, 

iron  and  plaster? 
Samples  of  interior  w^ood  finish  to  be  made  for  the  approval  of 

the  Board? 
Plaster  Avails  painted  and  where? 
Painting  of  brick  walls  and  Avhere? 

Painting  of  cement  floors.    Where  and  Avhat  material  used? 
Lettering  of  doors  to  various  rooms? 
Special  decorative  painting  of  Auditorium  and  Main  Entrance 

Hall? 


Glazing  : 


Quality  of  glass  used  in  outside  windows? 

Quality  of  glass  used  in  exterior  and  interior  indoors? 

28 


Obscure  «lass  used  in  such   place  as  Toilet  Room   windows. 

Shower  and  Locker  Rooms,  etc. 
Wire  <>lass  for  ti reproof  partitions,  doors,  and  stair  enclosuies? 
Leaded  Glass? 

Plumbing 

Any  hot  water  heating  apparatus?    Kind,  size  and  location? 

Location  of  fixtures  to  be  supplied  with  hot  water? 

Is  plumbing  a  cast  iron  or  screw  pipe  job? 

Disposal  of  rain  water  on  surface  of  ground,  or  into  sewer? 

Pipe  covering  on  hot  and  cold  Avater  and  steam  pipes? 

Tests  of  system  as  required  by  local  Board  of  Health? 

Is  hot  water  a  circulating  system  or  only  a  single  pipe  system? 

Connections  on  outside  of  building  for  water  hose? 

Are  "fire  line  stand  pipes  and  hose  reels  called  for  in  corridors? 

Plumbing  fixtures?     Examine  illustration,   or  preferably  •  see 

samples  of  all  plumbing  fixtures? 

Water  closet  Avith  seat  action  and  pressure  water  tanks  are 
to  be  preferred.    Seats  with  open  cut  in  front  also  preferred. 

Individual  Avhite  porcelain  urinals  about  4'6"  high  are  to  be 
IDreferred  to  the  ordinary  slate  or  soapstone  urinal. 
Look  up  location  of  Toilet  Rooms  and  number  of  fixtures  in 

each? 
Location  and  number  of  drinking  fountains? 
Any  floor  drains  called  for  in  Toilet  Rooms  or  Basement? 
Any  automatic  cellar  drain  called  for  as  required? 
Number  and  location  of  shower  baths? 
Any  water  filters,  storage  tanks,  pumps,  etc.  required? 
Sewerage  disposal  plant  required  where  no  sewers  are  available. 
Inside  cast  iron  rain  water  leaders  from  roofs  or  outside  sheet 

metal  leaders?- 
Any  laundry  tubs  desired  in  connection  with  Domestic  Science 

Room? 
Any  pipes  running  through  cold  air  rooms  or  any  unheated 

spaces  should  be  carefully  covered  to  prevent  freezing. 

Vacuum  Cleaning  System  : 

Type  of  machine?    Portable  or  stationary? 
Capacity  of  machine?    Number  of  sweepers  that  can  be  used  at 
one  time? 


Location  of  outlets? 

Number  of  sets  of  hose  and  tools  furnished? 

Gas  Piping  : 

Check  location  of  emergenc}^  gas  outlets  in  corridors,  stairs, 

auditorium,  etc. 
Provide  gas  outlets  in  Laboratories,  Lunch  Room,   Domestic 

Science  Room,  Boiler  Room,  Teachers'  Room,  etc. 
Location  of  gas  meter  and  approval  of  piping  installation  by 

local  gas  company? 

Electric  Work 

Architect  must  obtain  full  information  as  to  the  kind  of  current 
juid  its  phase  and  voltage  furnished  by  the  local  Lighting  Cp. 

Check  up  number  of  lights  in  Classrooms? 

See  how  lights  in  Classrooms  are  controlled,  either  by  local 
switch  in  Classroom  or  from  panel  boards  in  Corridors? 

Any  outside  lights  at  entrance? 

Base  receptacles  wher-e  needed? 

Electric  outlets  for  special  furniture  in  Laboratories,  Demon- 
stration Tables,  etc. 

Outlet  for  motion  picture  or  stereopticon  machine? 

Lights  in  Auditorium  controlled  by  one  main  switch  located 
near  moving  picture  machine,  in  addition  to  switches  in  Dressing 
Room  off  the  stage.  At  times  it  is  necessar}-  that  moving  pic- 
ture operator  be  able  to  turn  off  and  on  Auditorium  lights,  as  for 
instance  when  film  breaks,  lights  should  be  turned  on  and  off  again 
by  Operator  when  film  is  repaired. 

Footlights  on  stage  or  side  and  overhead  lights  around  prosen- 
ium  arch.  Provide  plenty  of  overhead  lighting  on  Stage  so  chorus  or 
orchestra  will  have  no  trouble  reading  their  music. 

Location  of  program  bells  and  how  operated ;  by  a  program 
clock  or  hand  push  button? 

Electric  power  for  motors,  fans  and  vacuum  cleaner? 

Outside  door  push  button  ringing  bells  in  front  Corridor  and 
l^oiler  Room. 

Special  program  bells  in  noisy  rooms? 

Push  button  and  buzzer  from  stage  to  stereopticon  location? 

Fire  alarm  bells  and  their  location?     How  operated? 

30 


Bells,  telephones  and  clocks  operated  by  dry  batteries  or  storage 
batteries. 

Long  distance  outside  telephones? 

Any  interior  telephone  system?  Location  of  central  switch- 
board for  interior  telephone  system? 

Number  and  location  of  interior  and  outside  telephones? 

Number  and  location  of  secondary  clocks  in  Classrooms  which 
are  operated  by  master  clock  in  Principal's  Office? 

Location  of  master  clock,  program  bells/ switchboard,  fire  alarm 
switchboard,  telephone  switchboard?  (T^sually  in  Princii)ars  outer 
office). 

Any  electric  outlets  required  for  electric  irons  or  electric  stoves? 

Kind  and  design  of  lighting  fixtures? 

Is  electric  service  wire  from  street  main  run  exposed  overhead 
on  poles  or  concealed  in  conduit  below  ground? 

Underwriters'  Certificate  of  Inspection  approving  wiring  instal- 
lation, to  be  obtained  by  Contractor  and  filed  with  Board  of  Educa- 
tion before  final  payment  is  made  on  contract.  This  certificate  is 
needed  in  connection  Avith  fire  insurance  policy  on  building. 

Heating  and  Ventilating 

General  description  of  system? 

Kind  of  piping  system :  one  pipe,  tAvo  pipe,  vapor  or  vacuum 
system  ? 

Are  fans  used  for  either  or  both  the  fresh  air  supply  and  exhaust 
ventilation? 

Type  of  boiler  or  furnace? 

Kind  of  boiler  grates — stationary  or  shaking  grates?  Kind  and 
size  of  coal  to  be  burned?  Boiler  grates  should  be  suitable  for  kind 
of  coal  to  be  used.    Oil  burning  boilers  in  certain  localities. 

Special  provision  for  heating  up  Principal's  Office,  Board  of 
Education,  Superintendent's  Office  during  winter  holidays  and  even- 
ings, so  entire  building  will  not  have  to  be  heated?  (*'Gas-steam'' 
radiators  good  for  this  purpose). 

Is  automatic  temperature  control  called  for?  What  sections 
are  so  controlled? 

Quality  of  valves  specified? 

Quality  of  pipes  specified? 

3' 


Are  Toilet  Rooms  specially  ventilated  independent  of  school 
ventilation? 

If  hot  air  blast  system  of  heating  is  used,  are  direct  radiators 
installed  in  rooms  where  water  is  located  to  prevent  freezing  during 
nights,  Sundays  and  holidays? 

Kind  of  air  valves  used :  is  an  air  line  system  specified  with  or 
without  vacuum  pump? 

Is  piping  system  valved  for  separate  control  of  direct  radiator 
in  Classrooms,  Auditorium,  etc.,  and  for  indirect  air  heaters  for  ven- 
tilation. Also  so  sections  of  building  can  be  shut  off  in  case  of  acci- 
dent to  any  part  of  system? 

Is  ventilation  of  Classrooms  and  Auditorium  controlled  sepa- 
rately so  that  either  section  can  be  used  without  the  other? 

Types  of  radiators  specified — wall  or  floor? 

Any  provision  for  humidifying  air? 

Any  air  washers? 

Are  all  pipes  covered? 

All  exposed  pipes  and  radiators  painted  or  bronzed? 

l^ote — The  Ventilating  of  school  buildings  is  not  an  exact  science 
where  definite  results  can  always  be  depended  upon.  It  should  there- 
fore be  designed  and  its  installation  supervised  by  a  competent  Heat- 
ing and  Ventilating  Engineer,  of  ability  and  judgment.  It  is  bad 
practice  to  have  Steam  Heating  Contractors,  Material  Men,  or  any- 
one else  who  has  something  to  sell,  lay  out  the  heating  and  ventilat- 
ing plans  and  specifications.  Heating  and  Ventilating  systems  have 
been  subjected  to  a  great  deal  of  criticism,  and  no  trouble  or  expense 
should  be  spared  to  get  a  layout  adapted  to  the  special  building  in 
hand.  After  the  building  is  completed  it  should  be  operated  by  some- 
one who  knows  more  about  a  heating  and  ventilating  plant  than 
merely  shoveling  coal  into  the  boilers. 


32 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 

AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED   FOR   FAILURE  TO   RETURN 
THIS   BOOK   ON   THE   DATE   DUE.    THE   PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  50  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY    AND    TO     $t.OO    ON    THE    SEVENTH     DAY 
OVERDUE. 

MAR     f>    1936 

\ 

Map  1  Ck  mo/? 

wHff  xv  1936 

APR   2   1936 

m  ir,  ,..,. 

J 

LD  21-100m-8,'34 

Gaylord  Bros. 

Makes 

Syracuse.  N.  Y, 

PAT.  JAN.  21.1908 


f*^,;^^ 
***.      *"<. 


415815 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


.:  .>?" 


M 


P'  ' 


